The FCC has made it easier for more companies to offer broadband Internet access in flight.

Since 2001, the commission has cleared companies on an ad hoc basis to market in-flight broadband services via satellite.

Under a newly adopted framework, the licensing procedures will be simpler, the commission said.

Flying is safest since dawn of jet age

Despite the number of accidents we hear about recently, flying is now safer since the dawn of the jet age.

The U.S. hasn’t had a fatal accident since a commuter plane crashed near Buffalo, N.Y., in 2009.

Airline safety has improved steadily over the years, and accident rates in the U.S. and elsewhere began dropping with the advent of voluntary incident-reporting programs that encourage pilots and mechanics to pass on information about mistakes without fear of retribution.

What’s the big idea?

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